Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Jan. 9. It was updated on Jan. 10 after Ingram spoke about his mother’s death.
The Utah Hockey Club has recalled goaltender Connor Ingram from the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL, where he spent nine days on a conditioning stint in preparation for his NHL return.
He hasn’t played in the NHL since the second period of Utah’s game against the Washington Capitals on Nov. 18.
The team initially announced that Ingram had been away dealing with an upper-body injury. When he returned on Friday, he revealed that he had taken a leave of absence to spend time with his mother, who passed away from cancer in early December.
The team has donated to several causes in Ingram’s mother’s honor.
Ingram played one game during his conditioning stint, a 4-1 win over the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Wednesday.
He stopped 29 of 30 shots despite not having played in more than seven weeks.
Ingram last skated with Utah HC in Colorado on Dec. 12.
Head coach André Tourigny told the media that it was just to gauge where Ingram was at in his recovery, and that it was determined Ingram was not yet ready to return.
In 13 NHL games this season, Ingram has a record of 6-4-3 with a goals-against average of 3.61 and a save percentage of .871. Utah HC has back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday, so he could get his first game soon.
Jaxson Stauber, whom Utah HC recalled from Tucson when Ingram got hurt, has been reassigned to the Roadrunners. The 25-year-old played four games, recording two wins and the franchise’s first shutout.
Stauber’s numbers were above-average in nearly every category, proving that he probably belongs in the NHL rather than the AHL. Utah HC management will be glad to have that type of depth, knowing that they’re covered if something should happen to either Ingram or Karel Vejmelka.
Stauber is on a one-year, league-minimum contract, after which he will become an unrestricted free agent. He could be in a good position to pursue a one-way contract next season as an NHL backup goalie.